Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy today, it is impossible not to talk about race in the presidential campaign. After a year of dancing around the subject, the race conversation finally surfaced in the past few weeks in an unusual debate over Dr. King's legacy. But it was BET founder Bob Johnson, of all people, who introduced the film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner as a way to criticize Barack Obama.

Maybe Bob Johnson misunderstood the movie. In one of the most famous lines of the classic film, young Dr. John Wade Prentice (played by Sidney Poitier) confronts his father's racial baggage. "I'm your son. I love you. I always have and I always will," says Dr. Prentice. "But you think of yourself as a colored man. I think of myself as a man."

Forty years later, the same poignant line could have been delivered by Barack Obama to African Americans who questioned whether the young senator should run for president and doubted if he could win among whites. While many African Americans think of Obama as a black man, he thinks of himself as a man.

Certainly Senator Obama understands he is black, but he also understands that he need not be limited or defined by his race. For many black Americans, on the other hand, we're still learning that lesson.

A major reason why some African Americans were reluctant to embrace Obama's campaign was not because, as the media suggested, he wasn't "black enough." Instead, black Americans feared that America wasn't "colorblind enough."

They've seen the polls that show large majorities of Americans say they would vote for a black president, but they know that polls about race can be deceptive. When the polls showed David Dinkins in New York City and Doug Wilder in Virginia were cruising to comfortable victories, the two men barely eked out wins in their races.

Ironically, white Americans have been slightly more likely than black Americans to believe that America is ready for a black president. That's not because blacks are racists; it's because they're realists. Blacks are more likely than whites to believe that racism is still a problem in America, in part, because they're more likely than whites to experience it on a regular basis.

But for all the skepticism among African Americans, there was no mistaking the change that took place in Iowa and New Hampshire this past month. Whether or not Barack Obama wins the presidency, black America has moved further along toward the goal of racial equality.

The gap between Obama and the civil rights generation doesn't entirely explain the sudden shift. Although the civil rights generation produced Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, it also produced Colin Powell and Oprah Winfrey. There have always been black public figures who defied the conventional wisdom, and the black community has never been monolithic. But the community's aspirations grow higher and more attainable with each generation.

Nevertheless, black political candidates still bear the burden of representation. Hence, one television news program the past week questioned why several black leaders - including Al Sharpton, Maya Angelou and Sean "Diddy" Combs - had not yet endorsed Senator Obama. But who could imagine a news program asking why Billy Graham, Gore Vidal and Justin Timberlake had not yet endorsed John Edwards?

Colin Powell himself this week told PBS host Tavis Smiley that "we should see Barack as a candidate for president who happens to be black, and not [as] a black candidate for president."

Like General Powell, the Columbia and Harvard-educated Obama surely understands that he must be exceptional to be accepted by white America. Such was the case 40 years ago for Dr. John Wade Prentice, an eminent medical scholar with an impeccable educational pedigree.

In 1967, it was Joey Drayton (the young white idealist played by Katharine Houghton) who convinced her parents that an interracial marriage was possible and would not harm the children from the marriage. "She feels that every single one of our children will be President of the United States," Dr. Prentice told Joey's father (played by Spencer Tracy). "And they'll all have colorful administrations," he added.

For his part, though, Dr. Prentice's character was a bit more skeptical. When Mr. Drayton asks Dr. Prentice how he feels about the potential problem in raising their children, Poitier jokes, "Frankly, I think your daughter is a bit optimistic. I'd settle for Secretary of State."

Poitier's generation has grown up now, and they've already become Secretary of State (twice). The new generation wants something more. They don't want to be limited by the color of their skin, and they hope to be judged by the content of their character. And, as Barack Obama shows, they aren't afraid to be President.

Comments

[duboisist]

Mr. Boykin,

It's amazing how often defenders of Sen. Obama talk about "other" people. "All of the good members of group x are this positive thing (y), but THOSE OTHER PEOPLE (either different members of group x or members of a different group) aren't (not y).
There are always:

"good" black people and "bad" black people
"old" and "young"
"educated" and "not educated"
"open minded" and "racist"
"the future" and "the past"
"sophisticated" and "trailer trash"

People are suppose to do what they want them to do so they can get into the club with the "good" people and not be stuck in the club with the "bad" people. If you are black and don't support Barak Obama you are 1) asleep, 2) scared, 3) old, 4) uneducated, 5) "haven't learned" ____ yet, 6)hate Dr. King, etc. etc.
If you are white and you don't support Barak Obama, you are racist. If you support him, you are not.
If you are neither black or white, you are invisible -- until they need your vote.
"New and improved" might not be too bad if it is only selling mouth wash or deodorant, but it is nothing to base your choice for President on and no way to find solutions for social problems.

[betabeta]

Many, many years ago Angela Davis wrote a book called Women, Race, and Class. I don't know if it is still in print or not but I wish so many would read it. If they did they would understand why this campaign keeps coming back to those topics. Things have changed since she wrote her book, but many have not and deep in their hearts people know it. Sad we had to have a woman, a black and a person from a working class background in one race and instead of being thrilled about it we instead pick each other and them apart over it.

[midtown]

Then why doesn't the Black community show us its power and vote?**

[Great blog, BTW. Smartest reading of the situation I've read so far. Clear.]

** I asked this of the kid behind the counter at 7-11 and he shrugged.

[ESerafina42]

I don't have the problem of choosing since I'm not a registered Democrat and can't vote in the primary. I think that members of either group can feel that swell of pride in their chest, and probably even white men can feel it to a certain extent, or white women about Obama, that we in America (and Democrats in particular) have finally reached this point. However, that doesn't mean that you have to vote for the person if you're not absolutely sure, despite the feeling of pride and all that, that they're the best of all the choices you're offered.

In the general election the Democrat, whoever he or she is, is the best choice.

[Seattlelite]

I"m always annoyed when "Senator Obama"s message that hope and unity" will allow us to make change in our country and the world" is dismissed as nothing more than "pie in the sky lofty ideas with no substance". Well to those people I say, check your calendar because today we are celebrating a national holiday honoring a man who people also dismissed his message as lofty ideas with no substance. But as we all now know, his ideas and the ability to rally people around a cause did in fact make policies changes in Washington.

[who38]

Hear, hear.

[RealBlackGirl]

I believe in Obama, but the fact that we are this far in the campaign and I don't read thoughtful articles about the history of white voters and black candidates is troubling. Obama is third amongst white voters in South Carolina; thus requiring him to carry the entire Black vote which is a burden neither Clinton nor Edwards have to consider when it comes to their ethnic base. Moreover, we have had weeks of panels and articles about gender. Once again, white women benefit from the racial conversation. If white voters can't get John Edwards they can settle for Hillary with the bonus of Bill. She talks about accountability, management and experience but she can't keep Bill on message. Howard Dean, Rahm Emmanuel and Ted Kennedy have all called him and told him to shut up. I for one will no longer support the Democratic party if Bill and Hillary are allowed to continue these politics of destruction.

[EmilyMP]

Meah --

You're right! Ethnic mixing -- especially in the United States -- is going to bring 'Golden Children' to the forefront (probably not very soon, but, as you say, in the distant future). As a matter of fact, many Americans have black ancestory from hundreds of generations ago without realizing it. And I congratulate you on pointing out that Barack Obama is of mixed race -- people seem to forget that.

[LeeFromVA]

Barack Obama will win and it will be based on the content of his character. Too bad we didn't have that same standard 8 years ago.

[Benton]

First of all blacks never defined themselves as blacks. Historically Africans of various nation-states were framed with a "black" identity as defined by those that redefined themselves from Welsh, Scottish etc., to white. Blacks are black because color was the most visible distinguishing characteristic of Ibo, Hausa, Mandinka, Fulani etc in relation to those "whites" who had the power to assign definitions. Having said that. The first step in taking on a human identity is for commentators to stop assigning their own thinking to that of all "blacks". In reality there are millions of "blacks" under a certain age who have lived their entire lives in a fully integrated reality among "whites" who they grew up with from daycare through college. There are other "blacks" and "whites" who grew up in relatively segregated racialized realities. We all do not see the world through the same looking glass. As such their are not collective lessons that the "blacks" must learn on one hand or "whites" must learn on the other. If a person has issues it is up to them to deal with them. As a society all we can do is put information into the ether through education. Other than that let the stupid be stupid as long as the do not hurt others and let them die out along with burning witches and human sacrifice.

[altohone]

I am disappointed so much focus is placed on the race component of Kings legacy.

Clearly, the advances for racial equality he achieved are central, but King spoke LOUDLY against war and poverty too.

In this respect, Hillary's war vote and New Democrat DLC corporatist policies are in direct conflict with the unachieved goals King was fighting for, particularly in the period right before he was killed.

The cherry-picking of the historical record, or rather the intentional exclusion of those aspects of Kings legacy when it comes to this debate is a great disservice.

I'd add that limiting the debate hurts Obama since the wider comparison would show him to be more in line with Kings broader legacy.

[Meah]

My husband is black and I am white. He is a beloved teacher and experiences lots of love from his mostly white students, and lots of bigotry in subtle ways and not so subtle ways, just living his life, being in our neighborhood, just driving down the street, whatever. It is really confusing. When people of mostly white race know him, they love him. But he is followed by security cops, and people think he is going to steal things in stores. We went to Barnes and Noble and he was watched by a security guard the whole time he was there, as if he would pocket a CD. He is educated, has a master's degree, and has a gray beard. He is not young. This all drives me crazy. He laughs at people and what they do. I do not. I want to punch people out. We do not have any children (a late marriage) but we always see mixed race children, who are often very beautiful, and call them Golden Children, no matter what kind of mixed race they are. And we smile when we see them. Because we know that they are so very unique. Their life experience is all their own, and often struggle with their own identity. They come from different worlds, and experience life differently than anyone. This is the way we see Obama. He is a Golden Child, and has had a unique upbringing. Mostly everyone would call him black, I suppose, but we don't, because we know that mixed race people are individuals who are able to see life from a different vantage point than most. Golden Children will someday in the distant future, be in the majority. It is an inevitablility. Think how interesting the world will be then!

[Nommo]

Keith, if Black people experience racism daily, that means, it is what, still there? No, surely you jest.